All Over Albany

Death of infant called homicide, Cuomo forming Moreland panel on corruption, women's equality bill could bring cliff-hanger, local Jewish orgs credited with helping nab terror suspects

Albany police are treating the death of a one-month-old boy from Kingston as a homicide. Albany Medical Center staff told police the baby died from a severe head injury on Monday. The child's mother says she sent him from her home in Kingston to Albany last week to be with his father.[TU][WNYT][YNN]

The state Assembly is poised to vote on the 10-point women's equality legislation as one bill, while the Senate is planning to work on the new version -- ten separate bills -- which could set up a legislative cliff-hanger. Andrew Cuomo warned yesterday that a non-vote on the abortion codifying section of the bill is equal to a no vote. Cuomo says everyone can be blamed if the 10-point women's agenda isn't passed before the end of this session. [TU][State of Politics][State of Politics]

New York's district attorneys are pressing lawmakers to pass dozens of yet-to-be-voted-on anti-corruption proposals. Andrew Cuomo says he is abandoning a legislative solution to the corruption in the state legislature. Cuomo says he is convening a commission under the Moreland Act to examine campaign finance law violations through the Board of Elections. [Capitol Confidential][Saratogian][Capitol Confidential][State of Politics]

An assistant US Attorney hinted that more arrests could be forthcoming in the case of the two men charged with attempting to build an x-ray weapon and sell it to Jewish organizations with the intent of killing Muslims. Prosecutors say local Jewish organizations, including the Congregation Gates of Heaven in Schenectady were instrumental to catching the two suspects. The men are due back in court today.[Saratogian/AP] [AOA] [WNYT]

Andrew Cuomo's plan to amend the state constitution to allow the expansion of casino gambling in New York will go before voters in November. Race track casino owners say the new version of the bill is acceptable to them because it provides for new casinos to pay the same tax rate as the current casinos, avoiding what the racino owners say would have been an unfair advantage.[NYT][Saratogian]

The new, negotiated version of the bill that would create tax-free zones on and near college campuses includes a branding and name change -- from Tax
Free NY to START-UP NY -- and caps the number of employees eligible for tax exemptions at 10,000 statewide. [Capitol Confidential]

A new version of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act has been introduced in the state legislature and there is believed to have been some movement on the bill. [State of Politics]

The state Senate confirmed a number of Cuomo appointees on Wednesday night. [News 10]

State lawmakers are trying to fast track a bill named for the late Lt. Colonel Todd Clark, the Albany native killed in Afghanistan, that would allow the families of fallen soldiers to keep the flags flown at half staff on the Capitol. [WNYT]

A stretch of Route 7 in Colonie was closed on Wednesday morning while crews worked to extricate a man trapped in a car after he veered off the road, hitting a tree that snapped and fell on the vehicle. [Record] [TU]

Local organizations that help the developmentally disabled are waiting to see whether the restoration of $90 million in funding cuts for programs for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities will mean restored state support for their programs.[Record]

A Saratoga Springs man is facing felony assault, burglary and larceny charges in connection with the robbery of a Milton home over the weekend. [Saratogian]

An East Greenbush teen pleaded guilty to arson and will be sentenced to probation for his part in setting the fire that destroyed a historic home in August. [TU]

Sidewalk controversy in Schenectady.[TU]

Albany High School music students held a rally on Wednesday in Academy Park to protest cuts to the school districts music programs. Said one student "We really are the pride and joy of Albany High School, and if you take that away, what is going to be left?" [TU][YNN]

Shenedehowa High School's 2013 class will graduate on Monday, without three of their classmates.[YNN]